Well after yesterday's rain and wind today is much improved. No wind but overcast sky. I am good with that for we are looking at a 61 mile run to Trenton, Ontario and the beginning of the Trent Severn Waterway/Canal. We got underway at 9:15 AM and after Lou Ann has retrieved and stowed all the dock-lines and fenders we get Zoey's Adventure headed toward Trenton. Our course today is a bit of a zigzag and toward the end we actually slow way down for two different areas called "The Narrows". Both areas are well marked but when in a tight channel always best to be sure .
Long about 2:15 pm we reach Trent Port Marina and request a slip assignment. I always ask what side of the boat will be against the dock and if we are bow or stern into the dock. We prefer to back into the slip because our electrical and water connections are in the stern. Once Lou Ann has prepared all our 4 dock lines, a bow and stern plus two spring lines, and place the fenders we then proceed into the dock. Lou Ann does all the hard work and I sit on the bridge and move two little knobs. "A GREAT CREW" always make a mediocre captain look good. Port Trent Marina is huge, 300 boat slips and is only 3 years old. Their dock house offers 8 private bath and shower rooms, 3 sets of washers and dryers free including soap. They also have a beautiful meeting room and snack bar that serves ice cream, so GOOD! We have been invited to a reception this afternoon sponsored by the marina in honer of some special "Clean Marina" award they just received. At this reception we met a couple from Wellesley Island near Alexandria Bay, NY. Rusty and Melissa are still working but are planning the Loop in about 6 years. They recently purchased a boat in preparation of their adventure. Rusty and Melissa, as well as us, and maybe 25-30 Looper boats are here in Trenton for a special briefing on what lies ahead in the Trent-Severn Canal. Hosted by AGLCA (Great American Loop Cruisers Association) this 3 day event will feature a full day talk on cruising the Trent-Severn Canal and when we finish the canal we will then cruise both Georgian Bay and the North Channel. These two bodies of water are each bigger than Long Island Sound and filled with big rocks. Next time you look at a map of the Great Lakes, these two bodies are located to the north and east of Lake Huron.
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| Chad Buchner, Head of the Canal System for Parks Canada |
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| Room of Loopers, or are they Loopey |
Our plan is to stay at Port Trent for 5 nights, Sunday is July 1st, Canada Day, like our July 4th and there is a big fireworks display plus being a holiday here, the Trent Severn Canal will be extremely busy. We decided to enter the canal on July 3nd after the rush.
During our extend stay we walked to the 1st lock on the canal, a bit further than expected on a very hot and humid day. Well worth the walk because we met the lock staff and got a bit of additional info on the canal as well as seeing it in full operation. On the way back we stopped for some Canadian beer for the boat. Then lunch at a local fish and chip place, neither of us had fish and chips, not keen on fried foods you know.
On one of the nights our new friends Rusty and Melissa invited us to dinner aboard their boat Providence. We had a great time and a great dinner. We introduced them to Butter Tarts, more about them in a different post.
On Sunday we took the shuttle to a park just across the harbor that we were told was real good for the holiday celebration, but did not turn out that way so headed back to the boat. Our new friends from Texas, Mark & Lezlie on Antonia invited us to dinner. We also introduced them to Butter Tarts. We went and had a great dinner and stayed and watched the fire works from their boat. It doesn't get dark here until late so the fire works did not start until 10:00 pm, way past our bed time.
On Monday it was another hot day so we decided to take in a movie at the local theater. Adrift was playing. A true story of a young couple sailing a boat from Tahiti to the west coast and all the trials and tribulations that happen after encountering a severe storm. In all Trenton was a good stop. We met lots of Loopers and exchanged many boat cards during the 5 day stay.
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